Search

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is the most frequently mutated driver oncogene in nonsmoking-related, non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EGFR-mutant NSCLC has a noninflamed tumor microenvironment (TME), with low infiltration by CD8+ T cells and, thus, immune-checkpoint inhibitors, such as antiprogrammed cell death-1 (anti–PD-1), have weak antitumor effects. Here, we showed that CD8+ T-cell responses were induced by an EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) in syngeneic Egfr-mutant NSCLC tumors, which was further pronounced by the sequential dual blockade of PD-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). However, the simultaneous triple blockade had no such effect. The PD-1/VEGFR2 dual blockade did not exert tumor-inhibitory effects without pretreatment with the EGFR-TKI, suggesting that the treatment schedule is crucial for the efficacy of the dual blockade therapy. Pretreatment with EGFR-TKI increased the CD8+ T-cell/regulatory T-cell (Treg) ratio, while also increasing the expression of immunosuppressive chemokines and chemokine receptors, as well as increasing the number of M2-like macrophages, in the TME. Discontinuing EGFR-TKI treatment reversed the transient increase of immunosuppressive factors in the TME. The subsequent PD-1/VEGFR2 inhibition maintained increased numbers of infiltrating CD8+ T cells and CD11c+ dendritic cells. Depletion of CD8+ T cells in vivo abolished tumor growth inhibition by EGFR-TKI alone and the sequential triple therapy, suggesting that EGFR inhibition is a prerequisite for the induction of CD8+ T-cell responses. Our findings could aid in developing an alternative immunotherapy strategy in patients with cancers that have driver mutations and a noninflamed TME.

To reduce cancer care disparities, this study aimed to clarify the difficulties in cancer care for people with mental disorders as perceived by cancer care providers.Cancer care providers at 17 designated cancer hospitals in Japan were surveyed using mail questionnaires. Respondents were asked to rate 29 items related to difficulties or insufficiencies in cancer care for patients with mental disorders on a five-point Likert scale. We analyzed the proportion of respondents who answered "difficult/insufficient" in each item. We also calculated the proportions of responders stratified according to the presence of psychiatric support systems within their hospitals.A total of 388 (58.4%) cancer care providers responded. Among the issues related to "difficulties in diagnosing and treating cancer," support for decision-making, assessment of treatment adherence, and assessment of physical symptoms were perceived as most difficult (73.5%-81.5% of respondents). Among the issues related to 'difficulties or insufficiencies in collaboration among multidisciplinary health care providers,' the issue of advance consultation and sharing information with the patient's primary psychiatric care provider was perceived as most difficult (52.2%). Among the issues related to "insufficiencies of in-hospital and community medical systems," education to provide reasonable accommodation was perceived as most insufficient (47.4%). The perceived difficulties of over half of the issues varied significantly between hospitals depending on the level of psychiatric support systems.This study clarified the difficulties of cancer care in patients with mental disorders as perceived by cancer care providers. Some issues may be resolved by psychiatric liaison teams.

Supplementary Data from CD8+ T-cell Responses Are Boosted by Dual PD-1/VEGFR2 Blockade after EGFR Inhibition in Egfr-Mutant Lung Cancer

Supplementary Figure from CD8+ T-cell Responses Are Boosted by Dual PD-1/VEGFR2 Blockade after EGFR Inhibition in Egfr-Mutant Lung Cancer

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is the most frequently mutated driver oncogene in nonsmoking-related, non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EGFR-mutant NSCLC has a noninflamed tumor microenvironment (TME), with low infiltration by CD8+ T cells and, thus, immune-checkpoint inhibitors, such as antiprogrammed cell death-1 (anti–PD-1), have weak antitumor effects. Here, we showed that CD8+ T-cell responses were induced by an EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) in syngeneic Egfr-mutant NSCLC tumors, which was further pronounced by the sequential dual blockade of PD-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). However, the simultaneous triple blockade had no such effect. The PD-1/VEGFR2 dual blockade did not exert tumor-inhibitory effects without pretreatment with the EGFR-TKI, suggesting that the treatment schedule is crucial for the efficacy of the dual blockade therapy. Pretreatment with EGFR-TKI increased the CD8+ T-cell/regulatory T-cell (Treg) ratio, while also increasing the expression of immunosuppressive chemokines and chemokine receptors, as well as increasing the number of M2-like macrophages, in the TME. Discontinuing EGFR-TKI treatment reversed the transient increase of immunosuppressive factors in the TME. The subsequent PD-1/VEGFR2 inhibition maintained increased numbers of infiltrating CD8+ T cells and CD11c+ dendritic cells. Depletion of CD8+ T cells in vivo abolished tumor growth inhibition by EGFR-TKI alone and the sequential triple therapy, suggesting that EGFR inhibition is a prerequisite for the induction of CD8+ T-cell responses. Our findings could aid in developing an alternative immunotherapy strategy in patients with cancers that have driver mutations and a noninflamed TME.

Supplementary Figure 3. Combined use of SHP099 with alectinib, crizotinib or osimertinib Cell viability after treatment with a single agent or a combination of agents relative to the control (set to 1). All drugs were loaded for 96 h. Error bars represent the standard error. *P < 0.01 (one-way ANOVA and the Bonferroni method). S, SHP099; A, alectinib; C, crizotinib; O, osimertinib.

Supplementary Figure 6. Body weight changes in a xenograft mouse model. Of the mice bearing H3122 tumors, those in the vehicle and SHP099 groups were euthanized on days 14 and 21 respectively, as they had reached the humanitarian endpoint due to tumor growth. Error bars represent the standard deviation.

Supplementary Figure 2. ROS1 TKI in combination with SHP099 (A) Immunoblots of the indicated proteins in HCC78 and ABC-20 cells treated for 24 h with DS-6051b (Ds, 100 nM) with or without SHP099 (SHP, 5 µM). Comb, combination. (B) RAS-GTP assay in H3122 cells treated with alectinib (Alec, 100 nM), ABC-20 cells treated with crizotinib (Cri, 1 µM) and HCC827 cells treated with osimertinib (Osi, 100 nM) for 24 h. All cell lines were also treated or not with SHP099 (SHP, 5 µM). Comb, combination. (C) Cell viability curves for cell lines treated with DS-6051b (DS) alone (circles), SHP099 (SHP) alone (triangles) or DC6051b and SHP099 (5 µM) (squares). All drugs were loaded for 96 h. Error bars represent the standard error.

Supplementary Figure 1. phospho-RTK array in PC-9 cells phospho-RTK array in PC-9 cells treated with 100 nM of the EGFR TKI erlotinib for up to 96 h. Multiple RTKs were gradually activated over time.

After molecular-targeted therapy, some cancer cells may remain that are resistant to therapies targeting oncogene alterations, such as those in the genes encoding the EGFR and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) as well as c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1). The mechanisms underlying this type of resistance are unknown. In this article, we report the potential role of Src homology 2 domain–containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2) in the residual cells of ALK/ROS1/EGFR-altered non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Molecular-targeted therapies failed to inhibit the ERK signaling pathway in the residual cells, whereas the SHP2 inhibitor SHP099 abolished their remaining ERK activity. SHP099 administered in combination with molecular-targeted therapy resulted in marked growth inhibition of cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, treatment combining an SHP2 inhibitor and a tyrosine kinase inhibitor may be a promising therapeutic strategy for oncogene-driven NSCLC.

Supplementary Figure 7. SHP2 compared to selumetinib in a xenograft mouse model. (A) Immunoblots of the PC-9 xenograft tumors treated with the indicated agents for 7 days. (B) Body weight changes after combination therapy with osimertinib and SHP099 or osimertnib and selumetinib in PC-9 xenograft mice. Error bars represent the standard deviation. (C) Body weight changes after combination therapy with alectinib and SHP099 or alectinib and selumetinib in H3122 xenograft mice. Error bars represent the standard deviation. (D) Body weight changes after combination therapy with crizotinib and SHP099 or crizotinib and selumetinib in ABC-20 xenograft mice. Error bars represent the standard deviation. Osi, osimertinib; Alec, alectinib; Cri, crizotinib; Selu, selumetinib; SHP, SHP099.

Supplementary Figure 5. Combined use of RMC4550 with alectinib, crizotinib or osimertinib Immunoblots of the indicated proteins in H3122 and ABC-19 cells treated with alectinib (Alec, 100 nM), HCC78 and ABC-20 cells treated with crizotinib (Cri, 1 µM) and PC-9 and HCC827 cells treated with osimertinib (Osi, 100 nM). All cell lines were also treated with RMC-4550 (RMC, 5 µM). Comb, combination. (B) Cell viability curves plotted for the cell lines treated with the molecular-targeted drug alone (circles), RMC-4550 alone (triangles) or the molecular-targeted drug and RMC-4550 (5 µM) (squares). All drugs were loaded for 96 h. Error bars represent the standard error.

A 16-year-old boy with asthma participated in recovery volunteer work following the 2018 heavy rains in Japan. One month later, he experienced chest pain and dyspnea. Chest computed tomography revealed a cavity with a fungal ball, and Aspergillus fumigatus was detected in his bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. He was treated with voriconazole, but new consolidations appeared rapidly. He also experienced allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. After prednisolone prescription, the consolidations improved; however, his asthma worsened. He underwent partial lung resection to avoid allergens, and his symptoms improved. We must recognize cases of infection after a disaster, especially in patients with chronic respiratory diseases.

Mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) of the pancreas is a rare cystic tumor occurring in the pancreatic body and tail in young to middle-aged women that is pathologically characterized by an ovarian-like stroma. Chemotherapy for recurrent/advanced pancreatic MCN has been based on chemotherapy regimens for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, but the prognosis is poor. We herein report a 37-year-old woman with pancreatic mucinous cystadenocarcinoma with liver metastasis that responded dramatically to carboplatin plus paclitaxel therapy (CBDCA+PTX). CBDCA+PTX may be a treatment option for recurrent/advanced pancreatic MCN with an ovarian-like stroma.

A 68-year-old man presented with a solid mass at the left renal pelvis and ureter with multiple systemic lymphadenopathies and a mass with a cavity in the right lower lobe of the lung. While a transbronchial lung biopsy revealed no malignancy, a biopsy of the renal pelvis showed marginal zone lymphoma with polyclonal IgG4-positive cells. The serum IgG4 level and presence of a bilateral orbital mass suggested Mikulicz disease. The lesions shrank following the administration of steroids. A rebiopsy confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, and its background showed IgG4-positive cells a year later. IgG4-related diseases require careful follow-up because they can be complicated by malignancy.

After molecular-targeted therapy, some cancer cells may remain that are resistant to therapies targeting oncogene alterations, such as those in the genes encoding the EGFR and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) as well as c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1). The mechanisms underlying this type of resistance are unknown. In this article, we report the potential role of Src homology 2 domain–containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2) in the residual cells of ALK/ROS1/EGFR-altered non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Molecular-targeted therapies failed to inhibit the ERK signaling pathway in the residual cells, whereas the SHP2 inhibitor SHP099 abolished their remaining ERK activity. SHP099 administered in combination with molecular-targeted therapy resulted in marked growth inhibition of cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, treatment combining an SHP2 inhibitor and a tyrosine kinase inhibitor may be a promising therapeutic strategy for oncogene-driven NSCLC.

Objective This study examined the pharmacokinetics, safety and anti-tumor activity of docetaxel at a dose of 100 mg/m2 in Japanese patients with advanced or recurrent breast cancer. Methods Japanese patients with advanced or recurrent breast cancer received docetaxel at a dose of 100 mg/m2 intravenously every three weeks. The pharmacokinetics were assessed during the first cycle. The patients were allowed to receive supportive care drugs based on the indications and dosages in Japan. Results Six eligible patients aged 39-65 years old and 27 treatment cycles were analyzed. All patients experienced one or more adverse events (AEs). The common AEs were neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, alopecia, rash, diarrhea, neuropathy (sensory), fatigue, nausea, fever, hypoalbuminemia, alanine transaminase (ALT) increased, constipation, and taste alteration. Grade 3 or 4 AEs included neutropenia, leukopenia, anemia, lymphopenia, decreased appetite, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GTP) increased, aspartate transaminase (AST) increased, ALT increased, hypertension and cellulitis which were all reversible. There were no cases of febrile neutropenia, serious AEs or deaths. The median number of cycles was six. Dose reductions were not observed and most cycles were administered at their intended doses. No complete response and three partial responses were observed in four assessable patients with evaluable lesions. The maximum concentration and area under the blood concentration-time curve were 3,417.5 ng/mL and 4.35 μg・hr/mL (mean), respectively. Conclusion Docetaxel at a dose of 100 mg/m2 was tolerable with acceptable safety profiles and effective for Japanese patients with advanced or recurrent breast cancer with appropriate supportive therapies, and pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles which corresponded approximately with the findings of previous clinical studies.

Objective A third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), osimertinib, is the standard treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer harbouring mutant EGFR. Unfortunately, these patients inevitably acquire resistance to EGFR-TKI therapies, including osimertinib. However, the mechanism associated with this resistance remains unclear. Methods A 63-year-old Japanese female with lung adenocarcinoma underwent right upper lobectomy (pT1bN2M0 pStage IIIA, EGFR Ex21 L858R). She manifested post-operative tumour recurrence with multiple lung metastases 8 months later and began gefitinib treatment. The lung lesions re-grew 15 months later, and EGFR T790M mutation was detected in the lung metastasis re-biopsy. She was administered osimertinib; however, it relapsed with pleural effusion 16 months later. We isolated cells from the osimertinib-resistant pleural effusion to establish a novel cell line, ABC-31. Results Although the EGFR L858R mutation was detected in ABC-31 cells, the T790M mutation was lost. ABC-31 cells were resistant to EGFR-TKIs, including osimertinib. Phospho-receptor tyrosine kinase array revealed activation of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), whereas overexpression of the IGF1R ligand, IGF2, induced IGF1R activation in ABC-31 cells. Combination therapy using EGFR-TKIs and IGF1R inhibitor acted synergistically in vitro. She was re-administered osimertinib since EGFR-TKIs and IGF1R inhibitor combination therapy was impossible in clinical practice. This had a slight and short-lived effect. Conclusions Taken together, we have successfully established a new osimertinib-resistant lung adenocarcinoma cell line with activated IGF1R. These ABC-31 cells will help develop novel therapeutic strategies for patients with lung adenocarcinoma resistant to specific treatment via IGF1R activation.

Objectives Immune checkpoint inhibitors offer longer survival than chemotherapy in several clinical trials for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. In subset analyses of clinical trials, immune checkpoint inhibitors extended survival in patients aged ≥65 years, but the effects in patients aged ≥75 years are controversial. We performed multicenter, collaborative and retrospective analyses of immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy and safety in non-small cell lung cancer patients aged ≥75 years. Methods We retrospectively studied 434 advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors from December 2015 to December 2017, and retrospectively applied the Geriatric (G) 8 screening tool with medical records. Results Of the 434 patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors, 100 were aged ≥75 years. Five patients with performance status 3 were omitted from the final analysis. Immune checkpoint inhibitors were given as a first-line treatment to 20 patients. The objective response rates, median progression-free survival rates and median survival times were 35.0%, 6.1 months and 10.7 months for first-line treatment, and 20.0%, 2.9 months and 14.7 months for second- or later-line treatments, respectively. The median modified G8 score was 11.0. The median survival time was longer in the high modified G8 (≥12.0) group than in the low modified G8 (≤11.0) group (18.7 vs. 8.7 months; P = 0.02). Likewise, the median survival time was 15.5 months (performance status 0–1) vs. 3.2 months (performance status 2) (P Conclusions In this study, immune checkpoint inhibitors were effective and tolerable for patients aged ≥75 years. The modified G8 screening tool and performance status were associated with the outcome of older non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a paradigm shift in the development of cancer treatment. However, it remains to be clarified whether the benefits that they confer differ a...

Increasing research has been conducted about patients’ preferences for their role in treatment decision making. Nowadays, a patient-centred approach, so-called ‘shared decision making,’ emphasises ...

Introduction The highly selective ALK receptor tyrosine kinase (ALK) inhibitor alectinib is standard therapy for ALK-positive lung cancers; however, some tumors quickly develop resistance. Here, we investigated the mechanism associated with rapid acquisition of resistance using clinical samples. Methods Autopsied samples were obtained from lung, liver, and renal tumors from a 51-year-old male patient with advanced ALK-positive lung cancer who had acquired resistance to alectinib in only 3 months. We established an alectinib-resistant cell line (ABC-14) from pleural effusion and an alectinib/crizotinib-resistant cell line (ABC-17) and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model from liver tumors. Additionally, we performed next-generation sequencing, direct DNA sequencing, and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results ABC-14 cells harbored no ALK mutations and were sensitive to crizotinib while also exhibiting MNNG HOS transforming gene (MET) gene amplification and amphiregulin overexpression. Additionally, combined treatment with crizotinib/erlotinib inhibited cell growth. ABC-17 and PDX tumors harbored ALK G1202R, and PDX tumors metastasized to multiple organs invivo, whereas the third-generation ALK-inhibitor, lorlatinib, diminished tumor growth invitro and invivo. Next-generation sequencing indicated high tumor mutation burden and heterogeneous tumor evolution. The autopsied lung tumors harbored ALK G1202R (c. 3604 G>A) and the right renal metastasis harbored ALK G1202R (c. 3604 G>C); the mutation thus comprised different codon changes. Conclusions High tumor mutation burden and heterogeneous tumor evolution might be responsible for rapid acquisition of alectinib resistance. Timely lorlatinib administration or combined therapy with an ALK inhibitor and other receptor tyrosine-kinase inhibitors might constitute a potent strategy.

Background Osimertinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that is an essential agent for the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there is no established strategy for treatment following acquired resistance to this agent. One potential strategy for treating acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs is re-administration, which has been evaluated mainly using first- or second-generation EGFR TKIs. However, no clinical data are available with which to determine the significance of re-administration of osimertinib, a third-generation EGFR TKI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of re-administering osimertinib to patients who had acquired resistance to this agent. Patients and methods We reviewed the medical records of consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC harboring EGFR-activating mutations and secondary T790M, who had undergone osimertinib re-administration to treat acquired resistance. Results Seventeen patients were re-administered osimertinib after acquiring resistance to osimertinib. Of these, two received osimertinib to treat carcinomatous meningitis without any measurable lesion. Responses were evaluated in the remaining 15 patients. The objective response and disease control rates were 33% and 73%, respectively. Tumor shrinkage by osimertinib re-administration was associated with that due to initial osimertinib treatment (r = 0.585, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.104–0.844). In the remaining two patients without measurable lesions, one exhibited improved clinical symptoms following osimertinib re-administration. The median progression-free survival (PFS) time of all 17 patients was 4.1 months (95% CI: 1.9–6.7). The toxicity of re-administration was low, without interruption of the treatment due to adverse events (AEs). Most patients had grade 2 AEs or lower. Conclusions Re-administration of osimertinib for EGFR-mutant NSCLC yielded modest activity with tolerable toxicity.

Osimertinib, a third generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is the standard treatment for patients with lung cancer harboring EGFR T790M; however, acquired resistance is inevitable due to genetic and epigenetic changes in cancer cells. In addition, a recent randomized clinical trial revealed that the combination of osimertinib and bevacizumab failed to exhibit superior progression-free survival compared with osimertinib alone. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of triple therapy with osimertinib, bevacizumab and cetuximab in xenograft tumors with different initial tumor volumes (conventional model, 200 mm3 and large model, 500 mm3). The results demonstrated that osimertinib significantly inhibited tumor growth in both the conventional and large models; however, maximum tumor regression was attenuated in the large model in which hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) expression levels increased. Although the combination of osimertinib and bevacizumab exerted a greater inhibitory effect on tumor growth compared with osimertinib in the conventional model, the effect of this combination therapy was attenuated in the large model. TGF-α attenuated sensitivity to osimertinib in vitro; however, this negative effect was counteracted by the combination of osimertinib and cetuximab, but not osimertinib and bevacizumab. In the large xenograft tumor model, the triple therapy induced the greatest inhibitory effect on tumor growth compared with osimertinib alone and its combination with bevacizumab. Clinical trials of the triple therapy are required for patients with lung cancer with EGFR mutations and HIF-1α/TGF-α.

A 62-year-old woman with edema and color changes in her fingers underwent computed tomography (CT); slight interstitial changes were detected in the lungs with multiple tumors in the anterior and hilar region of the liver. Based on the blood test findings, she was diagnosed with interstitial pneumonia associated with systemic sclerosis. Ultrasound-guided biopsy from the hepatic hilar lymph node revealed poorly differentiated serous adenocarcinoma cells. High serum CA-125 levels suggested primary peritoneal serous carcinoma (PPSC). Owing to increased interstitial shadows on chest CT images and worsening respiratory distress, intravenous cyclophosphamide and oral prednisolone treatment was started. The skin-related symptoms, respiratory distress, and interstitial shadows improved, and the tumor size reduced. Eighteen months later, the patient has had no exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia, and the PPSC is well controlled.

TPS12141 Background: Paclitaxel is a taxane agent that has been used as a standard treatment for various malignancies. However, taxanes, such as paclitaxel, unfortunately cause a high frequency of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) as a result of axonal damage (All grade; 70%) (Clin Cancer Res.1996), CIPN worsens patients’ QOL and then lead to poor treatment compliance. Furthermore, there is no evidence for the prevention of CIPN. Goshajinkigan (GJG) is one of the Kampo medicine and it is approved in Japan for the treatment of numbness and has been commonly used for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. In addition, a non-clinical study has also shown the preventive effect of GJG against CIPN induced by paclitaxel (Molecular pain. 2014). To investigate if GJG indeed has a preventive effect for severe CIPN in patients receiving chemotherapy including paclitaxel, we started a two-arm randomized trial of GJG vs physician’s choice of treatment for patients. Methods: Patients have to meet the followings: pathologically diagnosed with malignant tumor (regardless of cancer type) and scheduled to receive ≥4 courses of chemotherapy including carboplatin and paclitaxel (paclitaxel ≥150mg/m2 every 3-4 weeks) as initial chemotherapy; age ≥20yrs; Performance Status of 0 or 1. The primary endpoint is set as a proportion of ≥G2 CIPN by CTCAE ver.5.0 by the end of 4 courses of chemotherapy. With stratification by cancer type and age, patients will be randomized centrally to receive GJG at the same time as chemotherapy (A), or to receive the physician’s choice of treatment for pts if ≥G2 CIPN occurs without prophylaxis (B). Assuming that the incidence of ≥G2 CIPN would be 50% without prophylaxis and 20% with GJG prophylaxis, and assuming an 80% completion rate of four paclitaxel courses, the required sample size is 66 patients (1-β: 0.75, α: 0.1). The secondary endpoint includes time to the onset of CIPN G2, incidence rate and severity of CIPN at the end of each course, relative dose intensity of paclitaxel, adverse events other than CIPN. Enrollment began in 2022, and will be complete by 2025. Clinical trial information: 061210047.

Background and Aim: The effect of corticosteroids on dyspnea in patients with advanced cancer is expected to be associated with patient prognosis, though details about this are unclear. Thus, we aimed to investigate the relationship between prognostic indicators, actual survival, and the effect of corticosteroid administration on dyspnea in patients with advanced cancer.Method: We predicted the prognosis using the PaP score (palliative prognostic score) at the time of corticosteroid administration in 56 consecutive patients with cancer who started corticosteroid treatment for dyspnea at a single palliative care unit, and compared it with the actual survival. In addition, we investigated the relationship between the effect of corticosteroids on dyspnea, the prognostic score before administration, the actual survival, and other background factors.Results: The effect of corticosteroids strongly correlated with the actual survival, but not the prognostic score before corticosteroid administration, although it was correlated with prognostic score and actual survival. In addition, the effect of corticosteroids on dyspnea was less associated with other factors.Conclusion: The corticosteroid effect strongly associated with actual survival, but not the prognostic score. It was suggested that the effect of corticosteroids in patients could be predicted by using a more accurate prognosis prediction in the future.

Molecular agents targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)‐ or c‐ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) alterations have revolutionized the treatment of oncogene‐driven non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the emergence of acquired resistance remains a significant challenge, limiting the wider clinical success of these molecular targeted therapies. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of various molecular targeted agents, including erlotinib, alectinib, and crizotinib, combined with anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) 2 therapy. The combination of VEGFR2 blockade with molecular targeted agents enhanced the anti‐tumor effects of these agents in xenograft mouse models of EGFR‐, ALK‐, or ROS1‐altered NSCLC. The numbers of CD31‐positive blood vessels were significantly lower in the tumors of mice treated with an anti‐VEGFR2 antibody combined with molecular targeted agents compared with in those of mice treated with molecular targeted agents alone, implying the antiangiogenic effects of VEGFR2 blockade. Additionally, the combination therapies exerted more potent antiproliferative effects in vitro in EGFR‐, ALK‐, or ROS1‐altered NSCLC cells, implying that VEGFR2 inhibition also has direct anti‐tumor effects on cancer cells. Furthermore, VEGFR2 expression was induced following exposure to molecular targeted agents, implying the importance of VEGFR2 signaling in NSCLC patients undergoing molecular targeted therapy. In conclusion, VEGFR2 inhibition enhanced the anti‐tumor effects of molecular targeted agents in various oncogene‐driven NSCLC models, not only by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis but also by exerting direct antiproliferative effects on cancer cells. Hence, combination therapy with anti‐VEGFR2 antibodies and molecular targeted agents could serve as a promising treatment strategy for oncogene‐driven NSCLC., We found that VEGFR2 blockade augmented the anti‐tumor effects of molecular targeted agents in oncogene‐driven NSCLC, particularly in EGFR/ALK/ROS1‐driven NSCLC. We also identified 2 mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of anti‐VEGFR2 therapy with molecular targeted agents. VEGFR2 blockade not only inhibited tumor angiogenesis but also exerted direct antiproliferative effects on cancer cells.

After molecular-targeted therapy, some cancer cells may remain that are resistant to therapies targeting oncogene alterations, such as those in the genes encoding the

New therapeutic drugs have been developed for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and the prognosis of advanced NSCLC patients has improved. However, resistance to these drugs is a concern, and re-biopsy is necessary to determine the mechanism of drug resistance. There are many reports about the protocols for re-biopsy, including techniques such as bronchoscopy and computed tomography-guided needle biopsy (CTNB); however, there is no consensus on which method is optimal. Therefore, we retrospectively reviewed the bronchoscopy and CTNB re-biopsies conducted at our hospital.We retrospectively analyzed 79 cases of re-biopsies with bronchoscopy or CTNB in patients with NSCLC from January 2014 to December 2016 at our institute.Forty-nine cases of bronchoscopy and 30 cases of CTNB were taken for re-biopsy. The diagnostic rates of bronchoscopy and CTNB were 83.7% and 100%, respectively (p = 0.023). The complication rates of bronchoscopy and CTNB were 18.4% and 36.7%, respectively (p = 0.11), with a statistically significant difference in the incidence of pneumothorax (0% vs. 23.3%, respectively; p 0.01). Pneumothorax required drainage in 6.7% of all CTNB cases. There were no fatalities in either group.CTNB showed a higher diagnostic rate; however, it was associated with a higher rate of complications such as pneumothorax. Hence, the optimal modality must be determined individually for each patient.

Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) is the standard therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR mutations, but the resistance is inevitable. The drug-tolerant persister cancer cells are thought to be involved in the resistance. We recently reported that HER2 expression had a negative impact on time-to-treatment-failure in patients with EGFR mutant NSCLC. In this study, we hypothesized that HER2 might be a potential target for alternative combination therapy in NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations. In vitro study showed that the level of HER2 expression had no correlation with the sensitivity to EGFR-TKI, erlotinib but showed some correlation with HER2-inhibitor, ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) in multiple EGFR-mutant lung cancer cell lines. In addition, HER2 expression was increased in persister cancer cells in 11–18 cell line harboring EGFR L858R or HCC827 cell line harboring EGFR exon 19 deletion after the exposure to erlotinib in vitro and in vivo. The combination of erlotinib and T-DM1 showed a superior inhibitory effect on cell proliferation compared with those of the erlotinib or T-DM1 alone in either 11–18 or HCC827 cells in vitro. The combination therapy also induced a significantly greater inhibitory effect on tumor growth in xenograft model in mice transplanted with either 11–18 or HCC827 cells compared with erlotinib alone or T-DM1 alone. No body weight loss was observed in these mice. These results suggested that the combination therapy with EGFR-TKI and T-DM1 might be a potentially promising strategy for treating lung cancer harboring EGFR mutations.

Pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma (PAIS) is a rare malignancy with an extremely poor prognosis. A 43-year-old man visited our hospital with shortness of breath and suddenly experienced cardiopulmonary arrest before he could be examined. After prompt resuscitation, we diagnosed PAIS, but the patient refused to undergo surgery because of the high perioperative mortality risk. Thus, the patient was treated using concurrent chemoradiotherapy with weekly paclitaxel therapy, as well as subsequent chemotherapy. The patient continued chemotherapy for 36 months until he elected to discontinue treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of PAIS, which is difficult to resect, that was successfully treated using concurrent chemoradiotherapy and subsequent chemotherapy.